My latest debut author interview is with Jamie Guiney, who published a short story collection and has twice been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
Tell us a little about your book and how you came to write it
The Wooden Hill is a collection of eighteen short stories, which is split into three parts to reflect the stages of life – Childhood, Adulthood, Elderhood.
I had written and published numerous short stories over the years and arrived at the point where I wanted to create a collection. I loved the title of The Wooden Hill – a local colloquialism for the staircase – which also symbolised life’s journey, from birth at the bottom step to death at the top.
I was delighted when Epoque Press wanted to publish it! Working with the Epoque Team was an enjoyable and enlightening experience. They asked me to write five new stories to help strengthen the collection, which was a daunting task at first – especially as I’m quite a slow writer – but it forced me to find a more efficient work ethic and I was grateful for their vision and guidance. Now I’m much more confident at working to a deadline.
What makes your book unique?
The Wooden Hill is a collection of Northern Irish stories, told in the NI Dialect. However, I didn’t want to bang that drum of writing about the troubles, as I felt so much had already been said. Instead, I hope my collection speaks of the humanity of people in Northern Ireland and their everyday troubles.
I also found it gratifying to follow that journey of life, from birth through to death; and many people have commented, that reading The Wooden Hill is like holding a mirror up to their own life, assessing where they are on the journey.
Another unique aspect is that three stories are written in second person, which is a fairly rare narrative.
Which part of being published were you most excited about?
I think most writers probably dream about walking into a bookshop and seeing their book(s) on the shelf, so that was the main one for me, and it’s still surreal every time it happens! The anticipation of knowing that that people would be reading my work, is both rewarding and humbling. I didn’t consider that people might review my book, but they have, and the reviews/ratings continue to be good.
What has been the most challenging part of your journey to publication?
Perseverance and maintaining self-belief are the hardest. Writing – or any craft for that matter – requires a long apprenticeship, because to get good at anything we must practice, and practice hard. It is especially difficult to keep going when rejection is such an integral part of being a writer.
But, in order to get our work read, we must send it into the world, and there’s process to that, process to achieving acceptance; whether it’s trying to find a literary agent, sending work to a literary journal, entering competitions or sending work directly to publishers.
Sometimes you have to fight against that provocation to give up, so it’s worth revisiting your successes in order to ignite the confidence again.
I would add that it’s important, if you like a creative piece, whether it’s writing or art or a song, to let the creator know; for those little compliments may make the difference between someone giving up or deciding to keep going.
Do you have a writing mentor, or someone who has influenced your work?
I don’t have a mentor, but guess that the NI Arts Council have provided invaluable guidance and financial backing over the years. Their continued support has given me little shots of confidence along the way.
In terms of influence, this comes from reading. I’ve learned a lot and believe my writing style has been shaped by studying the work of writers such as Steven Millhauser, Richard Ford, Richard Yates, Joseph Heller, Harper Lee, JD Salinger.
If there was one book that you could have written, other than your own, what would it be and why?
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. This book has so much to say about society, about humanity, and of course, the characters have incredible depth – if you talk about Atticus Finch, most people know who that is without having to mention the title of the book or the author.
What advice would you give to other writers hoping to publish a short story collection?
Be sure the stories fit the theme, and that your theme is a strong one. Creating a collection is more than bundling a bunch of stories together.
Is there a debut collection or novel you’ve particularly enjoyed reading in 2019?
In 2019 I’ve been reading mostly non-fiction – a refreshing break from my own creative process which helps keep one’s mind engaged with the real world! I’ve recently enjoyed Greta Thunberg’s little book of speeches, No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference. Greta is such a passionate and inspiring young woman!
I’m currently reading A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle – a fascinating look at spirituality and the consciousness of human beings.
About the author
Jamie Guiney is a literary fiction writer from County Armagh, Northern Ireland. His debut short story collection The Wooden Hill (published by Epoque Press) was shortlisted under Best Short Story Collection, in the 2019 Saboteur Awards. Jamie’s short stories have been published internationally and he has been nominated twice for the The Pushcart Prize.
Jamie is a graduate of the Faber & Faber Writing Academy and has twice been a judge for short story competition The New Rose Prize. His work has been backed by the Northern Ireland Arts Council through several Individual Artist Awards and he has also been chosen by Lagan Online as one of their New Original Writers.
Jamie favours the short story genre, believing it to be the closest written prose to the traditional art of storytelling.
Jamie is represented by literary agent Kim Witherspoon, Inkwell Management, NYC.
Find out more about Jamie by visiting his website, follow him on Twitter or Facebook. You can buy The Wooden Hill on Amazon and Waterstones.